Mumbai had gone down 1-0 to Jamshedpur FC in an ‘away’ game and 2-0 to FC Goa in their previous home game.
NorthEast United FC powered ahead in the first half with two early goals and backed it up with committed and organised defence to inflict a 2-0 defeat on Mumbai City FC in their ISL fixture on Wednesday.
India international Rowllin Borges and Nigerian striker Bartholomew Ogbeche were on target as NEUFC’s seventh win in 16 games took it to the second spot.
Mumbai slipped to third, level on points, goal difference and goals scored (27, +4, 21) with NEUFC. Its head-to-head saw the North-East side move to No. 2.
Crisp right-footer
The two goals happened partly due to first-time shots on target and partly due to sluggish defending. Keegan Pereira burst down the left and changed the point of attack with a deft tap. Borges connected at first touch, finding the roof with a crisp right-footer past a diving Amrinder Singh.
NorthEast United FC playeres celebrate a goal during the ISL match against Mumbai City FC in Mumbai on February 13, 2019. | Photo Credit: RANVIJAY SINGH
The MCFC goalkeeper found himself at the other post and helpless when the ball rolled in the second time. Reagen Singh, this time, did the damage from the right flank with a relay into the goalmouth for Ogbeche to deflect home with ease as no defender was at hand to hustle him.
Pawan Kumar, at the other end, faced a similar situation when Marko Klisura slipped into space near the NEUFC goal to trap an airborne pass, but the ball struck the player’s leg and bounced out of range.
The hosts were punished by the visitors in the fourth minute after yielding space on the left flank and allowing Borges the time and space to strike. Romanian central defender Lucian Golan’s absence was clearly felt — he was out with yellow cards — as his replacement, Serbia’s Klisura, took time to adjust.
Unlucky
Rafael Bastos almost got the equaliser for Mumbai, arriving at the right place to direct a pass back goalwards. The ball whizzed away from custodian Pawan Kumar onto the crossbar and bounced away, leaving the Brazilian holding his head in anguish. A goal would have been just reward for team effort, but instead of being on level terms, Mumbai leaked a second.
On resumption, the home team stepped up the pace and created chances, but the sharpness in finishing seen in earlier games was missing. Arnold Issoko got into position for a header off a Bastos pass, but was ruled offside. Klisure moved from defence to attack and got to the business-end of a Rayner Fernandes pass before losing the ball.
The result: NorthEast United FC 2 (Rowllin Borges 4, Bartholmew Ogbeche 33) bt Mumbai City FC 0.
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